Glovo, the home delivery company, is nearing the end of a portion of its so‑called ghost supermarket network in Spain. The restructuring releases a group of around 100 workers as sources cited by El Periódico de Cataluña, part of the Prensa Ibérica group, describe. The warehouses in Barcelona and Madrid are not slated for closure, while other facilities across the country face different fates. Glovo operates a network of logistics centers in strategic Spanish cities where purchased products are kept and then dispatched quickly to online shoppers through its app. Consumers cannot access these locations physically; shopping occurs entirely online.
In light of profitability challenges tied to this division, Glovo has decided to wind down several operations. The plan includes closing some ghost supermarkets in Bilbao, Pamplona, Tenerife, Las Palmas, Alicante, and Granada. By contrast, facilities in Barcelona, Madrid, Zaragoza, Valencia, Seville, Malaga, and Palma de Mallorca are expected to continue their activities, according to company sources contacted by this media outlet.
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Company representatives stated that limited access to capital and investment, coupled with a shrinking business volume in recent months, forced the temporary halt of the Super Glovo program in several cities. A broader context of rising cart prices further dulls the appeal of the ghost supermarket concept.
Operational profitability under pressure
The company, founded by Oscar Pierre and currently owned by Delivery Hero, has trimmed back a large portion of its ultra-fast delivery for physical goods. This niche faces diminished competition as major players withdraw when profitability becomes elusive; examples include Gorillas and Bring. Bring, having acquired Gorillas’ Spanish operations, closed its stores last summer, eliminating about 1,560 delivery roles in Spain. (Source: El Periódico de Cataluña)
Sources involved in the talks told El Periódico de Cataluña that workers were informed this week about the partial shutdown and the layoff of around one hundred staff. Unlike the majority of delivery drivers who move restaurant meals to homes, ghost supermarket staff are salaried employees. The model also offers paid leave, occupational risk training, procedures for severe weather, sick leave coverage for temporary disability, and similar benefits.
The broader ultra-fast home-delivery sector has struggled to achieve sustained profitability. After a pandemic‑driven surge, a slowdown in demand for telematics purchases has weighed on growth. In addition, rising interest rates have pressured many tech firms to accelerate toward clearer profitability. As part of cost-containment measures, Glovo had reportedly filed for an employment regulation scheme (ERE) last year to reallocate approximately 150 employees from its Barcelona and Madrid offices to curb expenses and approach a break-even point. (Source: El Periódico de Cataluña)